Abu Dhabi - the track goes under a hotel, and the pit lane goes under the track...

During the Chinese Grand prix weekend F1 teams were shown pictures of the new venue that will host the first ever Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – the Yas Island Marina circuit. It will hold the final round of the 2009 F1 season.

The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke but the construction is being handled by Philippe Gurdjian, the man behind the re-design of the Circuit Paul Ricard, now known as the High Tech Test Track.

Gurdjian has kept the layout envisaged by Tilke, but plans for it to be a hybrid road/street course have been dropped – it will be an pure road course instead. However a number of unusual features remain.

Its seating capacity is fairly low – 50,000 spectators, while most F1 tracks can accommodate tens of thousands more.

A hotel is an integral part of the complex and the F1 circuit actually runs through it. F1 personnel can stay at the track and walk into the paddock complex.

The pit lane exit passes underneath the circuit to rejoin the track.

You can see more of these unusual features in the pictures below. Click once to preview, then click the preview for a hi-res version.